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Rachael Yamagata
Rachael Yamagata
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Singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata grew up listening to Carole King, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, and the like, for music was the one thing in Yamagata's life that remained consistent. Her parents divorced when she was two, forcing her to find a balance between her German-Italian mother's apartment in New York City and the Washington, D.C. residence of her third-generation Japanese father. Such frequent travel readied Yamagata for a way of life that would eventually lead her to a professional singing career. By the time she reached Northwestern University in the mid-'90s, Yamagata had one year of piano lessons and a spiral notebook full of songs under her belt. After pursuing a degree in French for one year, she relocated to New York to become an Italian theater major at Vassar. Sporadic changes loomed ahead, however. When her acting coach at Vassar moved to Barnard College, Yamagata thought she would go, too. She eventually opted to return to Northwestern instead, where she joined the theater program and befriended the funk band Bumpus during her junior year.

Bumpus was a mainstay on the club circuit in Chicago, and Yamagata soon landed a gig singing with the band. She spent six years in the lineup, recording three albums and touring the country along the way. By 2001, however, Yamagata felt her time with Bumpus had run its course. She had a solid batch of songs that didn't gel with the band's funkafied formula, and a solo career was soon launched.

In September 2002, Yamagata landed a deal with Arista's Private Music, and her self-titled EP arrived in October. Her first full-length album, Happenstance, followed in June 2004. Featuring production from John Alagía, who had previously helmed such albums as John Mayer's Room for Squares and Dave Matthews Band's Busted Stuff, the album's pop-tinged sound found its way onto several teen-driven TV shows, including The O.C. and Alias. Happenstance also endeared Yamagata to such musicians as Ray LaMontagne, Jason Mraz, Ryan Adams, Conor Oberst, and Rhett Miller, all of whom invited her to perform on their albums as Yamagata readied her sophomore effort. Boosted by such support, she returned in 2008 with Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart, an eclectic release that featured both intimate material and PJ Harvey-inspired rock. ~ MacKenzie Wilson & Andrew Leahey, All Music GuideMore

Official Profile

Rachael Yamagata
Singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata grew up listening to Carole King, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, an...
Songs: 5, Videos: 5, Playlists: 1, Blog Posts: 0, Polls: 0, Battles: 0

Most Popular Music Videos (4)

Sidedish Friend [Lyric Video] (Video)
(Duration: 2:46)
Oct 8th, 6:04am
Elephants [Scenes From the Video] (Video)
(Duration: 1:44)
Oct 8th, 6:03am
Sunday Afternoon (Video)
(Duration: 9:04)
Dec 10th, 4:02pm
Faster (Video)
(Duration: 3:48)
Nov 26th, 3:41am
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Fan Comments

Oct 12th, 2:23am
Any Brandi Carlile fans in here? New album Give up the Ghost is out and its amazing! Check it out!
Sep 18th, 3:26pm
hey, this is amazing.
Jul 11th, 10:57pm
love Sunday afternoon,
now listening this in sunday morning ... not afternoon, but love
Jun 24th, 7:27pm
You have a beautiful beautiful voice... thank you for sharing your gift w/the rest of the world! I'm having a love affair w/your music... love... love... love it!
Jun 15th, 5:49pm
I love your music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i listen to the words and i can totally realate to the words. :)
Apr 23rd, 1:27pm
happenstance is one of my favorite words. not a coincidence since she's one of my favorite singers. :)
Dec 12th, 7:45pm
Rachael Yamagata fans...check out our exclusive video interview with Rachael and our exclusive image gallery of her show in Philadelphia!

Check it out only at Phrequency.com!

http://www.philly.com/philly/phrequency/genres/rock/Phrequency_TV_Rachel_Yamagata.html

http://www.phrequency.com/Rachael_Yamagata_Gets_Spiritual.html
Dec 10th, 8:00pm
An article and image gallery covering her show at the First Unitarian Church has been posted on Phrequency.com

http://www.phrequency.com/Rachael_Yamagata_Gets_Spiritual.html

and

http://www.phrequency.com/Rachel_Yamagata_and_Low_Anthem__The_Church_.html
Nov 14th, 12:38pm
This is just the songs of my dreams, thanks for all. Just one question, when do you come in France? We're waiting for you. Nadia(sorry for my poor english)

Upcoming Shows

11/29 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
The Swell Season
12/02 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theatre
The Swell Season
02/21 Miami, FL - Cayamo Music Cruise
Katie Herzig, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, Edie Carey, Luke Doucet, Lissie, Robert Earl Keen, Edwin McCain Band, Shawn Mullins, Melissa McClella...
02/22 Miami, FL - Cayamo Music Cruise
Katie Herzig, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Brandi Carlile, Edie Carey, Luke Doucet, Lissie, Robert Earl Keen, Edwin McCain Band, Shawn Mullins, Melissa McClella...
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